IFLA and the BnF

For some thirty years now, the BnF has been closely involved in IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, whose annual summer Congress is one of its key events. 
 

What is IFLA?

Created in 1927, it currently has over 1,500 members from 150 countries. Those members include national (and international) associations of librarians, libraries and library services in the public, private and voluntary sectors. 

IFLA is an independent, international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation. Its aims are to: 

  • Promote high standards of quality for services provided by library and information centres; 
  • Encourage widespread understanding of the value of those services; 
  • Represent the interests of IFLA’s members throughout the world.

Visit the IFLA website

The BnF in IFLA

In order to achieve its goals, IFLA has established Special Interest Sections and Groups tasked with encouraging and coordinating professionals’ work in sectors corresponding to specific types of institutions (national libraries, art libraries, etc.), professional occupations (bibliography, cataloguing, conservation, etc.) and thematic activities (press, artificial intelligence, etc.). The members of these Groups are elected by their peers for a fixed term.

Coordinated by Anaïs Basse, International Relations Department, the BnF’s presence in IFLA is as follows:

Advisory Committee on Standards
Mélanie Roche, Metadata Department (2023-2025)
Academic and Research Libraries Section

Jérôme Fronty, Music Department (2021-2025)
Art Libraries Section

Véronique Thomé, Preservation Department (2023-2027)
Bibliography Section

Florence Tfibel, Metadata Department (2023-2027)
Cataloguing Section
 Mélanie Roche, Metadata Department (2021-2025)
Mathilde Koskas, Legal Deposit Department (2023-2027)
Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section
 Florian Forestier, HR Policies and Development Department (2023-2027)
Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section
 Emilie Bettega, National Centre for Youth Literature (2021-2025)
National Libraries Section
 Ophélie Ramonatxo, International Relations Department (2023-2027)
News Media Section
 Alexia Bauville, Department of Law, Economics and Politics (2023-2027)
Preservation and Conservation Section
 Céline Allain, Preservation Department (2024-2026)
Rare Books and Special Collections Section
 Louise Amazan, Rare books reserve (2021-2025)
Subject Analysis and Access Section 
 Jean Maury, Metadata Department (2021-2025)
Also present in a personal capacity:
Library Buildings and Equipment Section
 Annie Bonnaud, Preservation Department (2023-2027)

The achievements in which the BnF has played a part include the drafting of guidelines for setting up a digital unification project. They are intended for anybody who is considering or planning a digital unification project, in particular in a library, in archives or in another heritage institution.

Consult these guidelines

IFLA’s annual Congress

IFLA’s annual Congress acts as a showcase for the work carried out by its Sections throughout the year. Bringing together between 2,000 and 3,000 professionals from all over the world, it is a hotbed of scientific activity and its exchanges are materialised in the publication of several hundred scientific communications.

The 1st Congress was held in 1929. 
France has hosted two such Congresses: in 1989 in Paris and in 2014 in Lyon.
In 2023, the 88th Congress is set to be held in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, with the theme “Let’s work together. Let’s library”.

 

More
 
Library map of the world

IFLA repository